How to Checkmate with Queen vs King in 1 Second Using Premoves

A few days ago, I played a Queen vs. King endgame where I managed to win with just 0.1 seconds left on my clock: Game Link. Afterward, I decided to research ways to simplify and speed up this common endgame, especially since it often comes down to a time scramble.

During my search, I found some forum posts and a video by GM Aman Hambleton (YouTube Link) that recommended a specific technique. I practiced this method against the computer, and yesterday, while streaming, I found myself in another QvK endgame with only a few seconds remaining. Excited to try my new technique, I executed it successfully in just 1.8 seconds!

I've posted a video explaining how to perform this mate using only one non-premove:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQsQI9WUok

For those who prefer a quick written explanation instead of watching the video above:

1. Spam Moves: Position your king and queen beside each other, keeping your king near the center while touching your queen.
2. Setup Position: Place your queen on c3, c6, f3, or f6.
3. Limit Options: The opposing king will have only two possible squares to move to. Hover your queen over one of the two back-rank squares that will keep it aligned with your mate setup.
4. First Non-Premove: Once your opponent moves, place your queen on the corresponding square (this is the only move that isn't premoved).
5. Premove Mate: Premove the final two moves to deliver checkmate.

The speed of this entire process depends only on how quickly you execute that single non-premove in step #4.